The first regular
Meeting of the Faculty Senate for the academic year 2003-2004 was held
in room 2.06.04, on September 11, 2003 at 3:30 p.m. in the Business
Building with Dr. Aaron Cassill, Chair, presiding.

Dr. Cassill noted that he was beginning a
one-year term as Chair of the Faculty Senate. He further stated that he
was elected under the old Bylaws. In April 2004, there will be a new
election for the individual who will serve the first two-year term.

II.
Minutes of the May 8, 2003 meeting approved.

III.
Reports

A.
Provost - Dr. Guy Bailey

A handout containing the Provost's report was distributed. In addition
to the information contained in the handout, Dr. Bailey had other
comments. He stated that, relative to the enrollment increase, an
important growth element is that the University now has more full-time
students. Although UTSA is often referred to as a commuter campus, the
reality is that more students are now full time. The chance for student
success goes up dramatically when the student population is full time;
this transforms the whole character of the University and affects
retention rates. Dr. Bailey gave full credit for this transformation to
the efforts of the faculty. He stated that this also means that the
University is attracting a higher share of very good students due to the
good job being done by the faculty members. There is also a
transformation in graduate enrollments; in fact, graduate enrollment is
growing faster than undergraduate enrollment. He felt that this was
attributable to the good educational experience that graduate students
are experiencing. Dr. Bailey expressed his appreciation for all that is
being done by faculty members to bring about this positive experience.

Dr. Bailey stated that the report from
last year's Senate Ad Hoc Committee on New Faculty Issues was the most
successful effort he had seen since coming to UTSA. As a result of this
report, enormous strides had been made to help new faculty members. Dr.
Sandy Welch and Dr. David Johnson were able to solve the majority of the
issues presented by the committee.

Dr. Bailey reported the results of the
evaluations of administrators conducted in Spring 2003 were extremely
helpful. These results are available in the Office of the Provost.

Regarding benefit changes, Dr. Bailey
reported a law was passed during the recent legislative session that
makes new employees ineligible for insurance benefits for three months
from their hire date. UTSA administration made the decision to fund the
initial three months of benefits from the University budget. Although
this will be a big expense, the decision was made to do it because it
would be unconscionable not to do so.

Dr. Bailey elaborated on the information
contained in the handout part titled Blueprint for Excellence: An
Addendum to the UTSA Action Plan. He said he would provide a copy to
be sent to the Senators.

B.
Senate Chair - Dr. Aaron Cassill

Dr. Cassill stated that rather than 'try
to solve all the ills of the world' he wanted the focus for the year to
be on specific areas. Specifically, the Senate would be working on a
receivership policy and the grievance procedure.

Dr. Sandy Norman noted that the policy
currently in the Handbook of Operating Procedures is not the same policy
approved by the Senate and to make changes in the policy would be
pointless.

Dr. Cassill responded that, according to
the Provost, the policy is being implemented but is not posted
appropriately. Focus should be placed on tenure policies and a clear
direction to new hiring as well as to the IDEA survey. The Senate should
also work with the Graduate Council on its bylaws since the current
setup is cumbersome.

In response to a question of whether it
will be possible to add to the agenda should pressing issues come up,
Dr. Cassill said that other issues would be welcome to discussion.

C.
Secretary of the General Faculty - Dr. Mansour El-Kikhia

Dr. El-Kikhia stated elections to the
University Assembly for 2003-2004 would be conducted soon. He reported
UTSA had a 54% response rate to the UT System survey conducted in Spring
2003. He will make copies of the survey results to distribute to
Senators.

IV.
Graduate Council - Consent Calendar - None

V.
Unfinished Business - None

VI.
New Business

1.
The following items were approved for referral to the appropriate
Faculty Senate Committee:

·
Proposal to accept the
International English Language Testing System, referred to the Academic
Policy and Requirements Committee.

·
Proposal to accept the
International Baccalaureate Individual Courses for Transfer of Credit to
UTSA, referred to the Academic Policy and Requirements Committee.

·
Nonsubstantive program
proposal for a minor in African American Studies, referred to the
University Curriculum Committee.

2.
Dr. Cassill presented a recommendation to form an ad hoc
committee to view faculty diversity at UTSA. He noted this is a very
important issue, and the purpose of this committee would be to decide to
increase faculty diversity. The need also exists to make proposals for
policy changes. A chair has not been named, and Senators will help
determine the membership. Input from the Senate members is requested.
Discussion followed stating that this was good timing for forming this
committee as there is a new director for the Office of Affirmative
Action, and this would be a good way to establish a linkage with that
office and the Faculty Senate. Questions were also raised as to the
scope of the committee: Would diversity be in the strictly legal sense
or in a broader sense of what might be needed to develop as a
university? While the issue was originally thought of in the legal
aspects of the representation, the committee can decide to expand the
study. Motion made and approved to establish a committee.